Handling the Word Rightly (2 Tim 2:15)

Those who belong to God handle the Word accurately. 

Seek to Know and Understand It

• We have to open the word of God to seek and know it. Those who belong to God seek to read and understand what God wants us to be and know. 

• As the Psalmist says, those who meditate and engage God's word are rooted like a tree by God's stream of life-giving water (Psalm 1).
• We renew our minds and test and discern the will of God by the word (Rom 12:1-2). 

Seek to Learn from It

• Some people open the Bible to prove that their life and choices are ok. They read and twist until the Word supports their sinful life. Others open the Bible before they even act or make a choice — to see what God would have us do. 
• The Ethiopian Eunuch was reading Isaiah and seeking to be taught by Philip. He wanted to learn but didn't understand.  (Acts 8:26-39)
• We don't know everything, but God will help us understand and learn from those more knowledgable than us. 
• Those who belong to God want to learn from Him and His Word. 

Remain Steadfast in What it Teaches

• Be steadfast in the work of the Lord. Your labor is not in vain (1 Cor 15:58).
• Life is always a work in progress but we need to find the salvation in Christ and stand on it. 

Refuse to Twist it to Fit our Purpose or Agenda

• There is no way to the Father except through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; 1 John 5:12). Christians are exclusive because Jesus is exclusive. We should never twist this verse to accommodate culture.
• We should not pick and choose verses in isolation to believe and disregard others: Rom 10:9-10 vs Acts 2:38 or both?

Avoid and Shun Wrong

 “Let everyone who names the name of Christ  depart from iniquity”  (cf. 2 Tim 2:15–19).

Shun, Run Away From, Avoid:

1. Profanity

Col 4:6; Eph 4:29. If you speak profanity it's from your heart, therefore it reveals that you are a profane person.

2. Idleness

If a person does not work, they do not eat (2 Thess 3:6–15). 

3. Because More Ungodliness Follows

Psalm 1. More ungodliness follows. Sin is not just a mistake or error in judgement. It is a serious cause for separation from God. Sin is costly.

4. Because Influences Spread

It influences us to sin more and it influences others too. 

 

An Unashamed Worker (2 Tim 2:15)

Those who are His are consistent. They are not two different people at home/work vs the church. Those Who are His are the same. They are workers who do not need to be ashamed.

We Do Not Need to Be Ashamed because...

1. We Come to Hear God's Word

Luke 6:46–49. Our desire is to live approved by Him and not be ashamed. 

2. We Worship Him with Our Lips and Heart

Mark 7:1–23. Some people attend church because it's a fad and go to churches because “everyone goes there” : the prestigious members of the community, the poor, and rich. Those Who Are His follow the Father not the fad, fun, or friends. God wants us to honor Him with our words and  our hearts (Mark 7:6).

3. Say What We Do and Do What We Say

1 John 5:1–7. Those Who Are His only speak of what they do and they do what they say. Ideals are meaningless unless practiced.

2. We Seek Only to Please Him

Gal 1:6–10; 1 John 3:22. God knows those who seek to please Him and they will not be ashamed.

Diligence for God's Approval (2 Tim 2:15–19)

The Lord Knows Those Who Are His: Those Who Diligently Seek God's Approval

1.  By Hearing and Obeying God's Word    (Matt 7:24–28) 
2.  By Worshipping in Spirit and Truth  (Matt 15:8–9; John 4:23–24) — in God's house we must worship according to His will and not set our own rules.
3.  By Matching Our Walk with Our Talk   (Matt 7:21–23) — doing what we say that we should do and being who we say we are.
4.  By Seeking to ONLY Please Him (Gal 1:10; 1 John 3:22)